Olympics: Your Country's 2022 Roster? (Assuming NHL participation)
- Thread starter smitty10
- Start date
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
Another dark horse for me on the U.S. is Brock Nelson. I think he would be really good as the 4th line center.
I prefer having three lefties and three righties. It helps breakouts or clearing the puck on the penalty kill. Or maybe I just have a little bit of OCD
Though I think Ekholm is quite accustomed to playing on his off side, at least on the national team. Furthermore, I think Andersson was Calgary's best defenseman in the playoffs and he saw the most minutes behind Giordano. I think by 2022 he will be even better. But Ekholm and Larsson have much national team experiece which probably will speak in their favour. Lindholm would likely be the odd man out, as he's less known here in Sweden.
in 2022:
Laine Barkov Rantanen
Kakko Aho Teravainen
Hintz KK Granlund
Armia Haula Kapanen
Heiskenan Lindell
Ristolainen Valikmaki
Maata Jokiharju
Rask
Of course there's loads of others in conention with so many good youngsters and a lot of wildcards there like Pulijarvi. 2 years is a long time.
Laine Barkov Rantanen
Kakko Aho Teravainen
Hintz KK Granlund
Armia Haula Kapanen
Heiskenan Lindell
Ristolainen Valikmaki
Maata Jokiharju
Rask
Of course there's loads of others in conention with so many good youngsters and a lot of wildcards there like Pulijarvi. 2 years is a long time.
JabbaJabba
Registered User
I like the way you formed those forward lines. It spreads goalscoring, size and talent around nicely just like I imagine they will do. I think that the forward lines will be built around pairings like Teräväinen-Aho and Laine-Barkov. In addition, the 4th line is the only defense first -type of line with nice speed and capability to put up some points. Of course this lineup relies on Kakko and Kotkaniemi to continue developing and become good players, but I like that Kotkaniemi would have Granlund to look after him and Hintz can play center as well. Kakko brings nice set of skills to that 2nd line and I think he would complement those two nicely.
Only thing that I might disagree is having Välimäki there over Vatanen. Vatanen will have over 500 games worth of NHL experience by the time the Olympics start, so it would be difficult to leave him out. I am not a big fan of Vatanen so if Välimäki plays nicely next season, I would be happy to have him there, but I am doubtful that the coaching staff would do it.
Anyway, good job!
Last edited:
KK should be at the level by 2022.
Kakko with 2 years I'd be very hopeful.
I'm also banking on jokiharju to continue his development.
Valimaki is the real long shot with the injuries. I think if he doesn't get there my pick with risto would be lehtonen.
My only issue with vatanen is I have to drop someone I like to get him in or put him in a pairing I don't like.
Kakko with 2 years I'd be very hopeful.
I'm also banking on jokiharju to continue his development.
Valimaki is the real long shot with the injuries. I think if he doesn't get there my pick with risto would be lehtonen.
My only issue with vatanen is I have to drop someone I like to get him in or put him in a pairing I don't like.
USA "A" Team
G Helly-Gibson-Quick
D. Werenski-Jones
Slavin - McAvoy
McDonagh - Carlson
Hughes
C Eichel - Matthews - Larkin - Nelson/Coyle
W Gaudreau - Miller - Kreider - Tkachuk
Kane - Guentzel - Connor - Tuch
Boeser
USA "B" Team
G Miller - Demko - Stalock
D Fowler - Trouba
Dumoulin - Petry
Leddy - DeAngelo
E. Johnson
C Coyle/Nelson - Hayes - Trocheck - Johnson
W Tkachuk - Pacioretty - Parise - Lee
Wheeler - Rust - DeBrincat - Oshie
JVR
I'm sure I missed one or two.
G Helly-Gibson-Quick
D. Werenski-Jones
Slavin - McAvoy
McDonagh - Carlson
Hughes
C Eichel - Matthews - Larkin - Nelson/Coyle
W Gaudreau - Miller - Kreider - Tkachuk
Kane - Guentzel - Connor - Tuch
Boeser
USA "B" Team
G Miller - Demko - Stalock
D Fowler - Trouba
Dumoulin - Petry
Leddy - DeAngelo
E. Johnson
C Coyle/Nelson - Hayes - Trocheck - Johnson
W Tkachuk - Pacioretty - Parise - Lee
Wheeler - Rust - DeBrincat - Oshie
JVR
I'm sure I missed one or two.
Last edited:
How can you not have Point? McDavid, McKinnon and Crosby only 3 forwards I would
have over him.
This is quite close to what I think the lineup will be. There are 2 changes for me. Firtly, I doubt Rask will play that long or if he does is he still up to the OG. Secondly, everyone seems to be forgetting the monster of a D-man called Hakanpää. I'm pretty sure he's one of the better Anaheim D-men, and just had to play a lot in the AHL because of two-way contract.
So for me the defense is as follows:
Vatanen - Heiskanen
Ristolainen - Määttä
Hakanpää - Nutivaara
Lindell,Jokiharju,Niku
Not a terrible list but I'm a Boston fan and no way is
Krug on even a B Team and Carlo isn't either. McDonagh is much better
defensively and Werenski brings all u need for
PP time. Actually Hughes and Fowler are better options.
Krug is completely a one dimensional PP specialist.
Coyle deserves consideration over Trocheck who has absolutely regressed. I also didn't see Brian Dumoulin
either who is better than Carlo.
William H Bonney
Registered User
I didn't list every player under consideration.
Krug would absolutely be in consideration for Team USA's A/B team. You're letting his poor playoffs this season jade you.
Also, you need to think a bit more like USAH in your assessments.
Krug has been one of the most heavily sheltered
off D men in the NHL. He has had one good PO
in the last 5.
Left shot I'm taking Slavin, McDonagh, Werenski,
Fowler, Hughes, Suter and Dumoulin over him.
On an A or B team set up Werenski, Fowler and Hughes
give you plenty of PP skill with no where near
the mediocre at best defending. Krug's #'s are
inflated by having Pastrnak and Marchand on
his PP unit.
Put Yandle on Boston and he absolutely matches
Krug's numbers.
The team that gets him will regret the signing.
Bouboumaster
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2014
- 10,772
- 9,245
Team USA is mighty impressive lol
Their only "weakness" (and it's not that bad lol) are in nets.
I see this edition has the 2nd best team, after Team Canada (who is absolutly stacked)
Team Russia had a "Defense" problem in the past. Not anymore. A bit weaker at center, but still pretty impressive.
Best Team Finland I've seen too I think.
Their only "weakness" (and it's not that bad lol) are in nets.
I see this edition has the 2nd best team, after Team Canada (who is absolutly stacked)
Team Russia had a "Defense" problem in the past. Not anymore. A bit weaker at center, but still pretty impressive.
Best Team Finland I've seen too I think.
William H Bonney
Registered User
It's not about who I'd take over him. It's about balancing what I want + what I think USAH will do. It's not unlikely that USAH would choose a PP specialist to be on the team. Is Krug a top 8 USA defenseman? No, but your assessment of Krug is a bit hyperbolic. Not that it matters, as if Hughes keeps it up, he's taking the (at minimum) PP specialist role if they have one.
Fowler is a good player but he wouldn't touch a Team USA PP.
Czechboy
Češi do toho!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 27,300
- 24,539
Russia is also producing some of the best goalies in the world right now. If I were Russian I'd like the outlook of my team starting with whatever 3 goalies I have back there and then looking at an emerging D corps that looks very good.
Bouboumaster
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2014
- 10,772
- 9,245
Oh yeah, absolutly!
But they were already good in the nets.
I'm much, much more impressed by what they add in defenses. I remember when they had Emelin on their 3rd pairing lol
The dark days are over for Russia I think
But still, if they could add a bit of center depth, that would put over the top. I know they are missing Kuz, tho.
Czechboy
Češi do toho!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 27,300
- 24,539
Agree about Centres:Oh yeah, absolutly!
But they were already good in the nets.
I'm much, much more impressed by what they add in defenses. I remember when they had Emelin on their 3rd pairing lol
The dark days are over for Russia I think
But still, if they could add a bit of center depth, that would put over the top. I know they are missing Kuz, tho.
Malkin might not be in contention at that point (2022) and Kuzy is suspended. Pretty steep dropoff.
The Russians have a similar problem to the Czechs as well. They tend to grab players from their domestic league (KHL) over NHL players. I think it is an awful strategy that rarely works but I think there are politics behind it (pure speculation).
All the Big 5 look amazing to me.
Bouboumaster
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2014
- 10,772
- 9,245
Malkin still a beast and should be there I think, just not as the number 1 center (if someone somehow become better than him, obviously)
I think that Team USA stepped it up big time. That defense looks amazing.
But I don't think 2022 will be the year Canada will lose... That forwards group is otherwordly, and they are loaded everywhere, with no weaknesses. But the gap is closing.
Czechboy
Češi do toho!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 27,300
- 24,539
My view hasn't changed in awhile... there are 5 countries that could all easily win a best on best and I wouldn't be the least bit shocked by any of them winning. It's not hard to picture a Russian goalie stealing a tournament and getting timely scoring from a plethora of superstars. It's easy to picture the US win with such a complete lineup and some of the best pure scorers in hockey and, also, great goaltending. Finland has an amazing playing style and are just loaded with all stars, a growing corps of D and have usually had elite goaltending (not sure about 2 years from now). Sweden is deep in every position and their goalies are all on fire right now, their D is astounding and them winning wouldn't be the least bit shocking. Canada has the best pool of players on the planet and would have a team that would probably make over 200 million if they were in the NHL - it'd literally be impossible to get that much talent on one NHL team and afford it.
Agreed that Canada is the favourite for every single tournament they play in... but tournaments are small sample sizes and short... any of the other 4 could do it and I would not even flinch.lol
I have a hard time seeing Doughty making it based on his horrible season. Weber, I would not be surprised to decline and not make it.
Theodore should definitely be on the team.
Just saw this when I believe Silfverberg will finally be on the team although he was on the World Cup team lately. In my view it's between him, Mikael Backlund, Joel Eriksson Ek and William Karlsson who will have defensive responsibilities on the team. If we compare these four players they are drafted later in first and in the second round. And they are about the same in physical abilities. Silfverberg came from a few extra years in SEL and might have developed his offensive play early on. Scoring is the same for the latest 5-7 seasons for both Backlund and Silfverberg. Karlsson have the extra benefit he might contribute a little more offensively even if I think Backlund and Silfverberg can do this as well. My point is: How good will Joel Eriksson Ek (etc.) be two seasons from now (when the Olympics take place). In his 25th year. Backlund, Silfverberg and Karlsson aren't exactly becomming much better. Karlsson and Arvidsson taking a step down enables Silfverberg.
Backlund drafted at pos. 24, 90kg (years of age games, goals, assists, points)
21: (years old): 23 1+9=10
22: 73 10+15=25
23: 41 4+7=11
24: 32 8+8=16
25: 76 18+21=39 (breakthrough)
26: 52 10+17=27
27: 82 21+26=47
28: 81 22+31=53 (peak)
29: 82 14+31=44
30 77 21+26=47
31 70 16+29=45
Silfverberg 39 92
23: 48 10+19=29
24: 52 10+13=23
25: 81 13+26=39
26: 82 20+19=39
27: 79 23+26=49 (?)
28: 77 17+23=40
29: 73 24+19=43
30: 66 21+18=39
Karlsson 53 88
22: 21 3+2=5
23: 81 9+11=20
24: 81 6+19=25
25: 82 43+35=78 (peak)
26: 82 24+32=56
27: 63 15+31=46
Eriksson Ek 20 93
20: 15 3+4=7
21: 75 6+10=16
22: 58 7+7=14
23: 62 8+21=29 (breakthrough?)
24:?
25:?
I like our third and fourth lines which have not happened often before. Facing Burakovsky, Backlund and Lindholm is not fun. They can do it all. Wear down the opposition and score clutch goals.
Gabriel Landeskog (29) – Nicklas Bäckström (34) – William Nylander (25)
Rickard Rakell (28) – Mika Zibanejad (28) – Elias Pettersson (23)
Filip Forsberg (27) – William Karlsson (29) – Jakob Silfverberg (31)
Robert Burakovsky (27) – Mikael Backlund (32) – Elias Lindholm (27)
Alexander Wennberg (27) – Viktor Arvidsson (28)
Rasmus Dahlin (21) – Erik Karlsson (31)
Victor Hedman (31) – Jonas Brodin (28)
Oliver Ekman Larsson (30) – Adam Larsson (29)
Hampus Lindholm (28) – John Klingberg (29)
Jacob Markström (32)
Robin Lehner (30)
Linus Ullmark (28)
Taxi squad: Alnefelt, Ekholm, Nyquist and Eriksson Ek.
Last edited:
I also prefer the lefty righty set up but for me the biggest reason is not the breakout or the kill...it is play on the offensive blue...playing your strong side allows for a better play under pressure...I am a right shooting d that plays the left and that play under pressure at the corner blue is toughest...I actually ask F3 to get to the top of the circle so I can make a short backhand pass into the hole...I prefer having three lefties and three righties. It helps breakouts or clearing the puck on the penalty kill. Or maybe I just have a little bit of OCD
Furthermore, I think Andersson was Calgary's best defenseman in the playoffs and he saw the most minutes behind Giordano. I think by 2022 he will be even better. But Ekholm and Larsson have much national team experiece which probably will speak in their favour. Lindholm would likely be the odd man out, as he's less known here in Sweden.
With the way the game is played in the o-zone now...having your d on the walls on their strong side is always a "safe zone"play. Don't need to look or think about it...you know your d will be there to pick it up and make a play.
meangene
Registered User
Canada has enough firepower that I don't think you need to load up MacKinnon and McDavid on the same line, I think you're better off letting each run wild with their own line so you can have at least one of them on the ice for ~40 minutes a game.
Barzal-McDavid-Point
Stamkos-MacKinnon-Scheiefle
Marchand-Crosby-Tavares
Couturier-ROR-Stone
Huberdeau-Seguin
Theodore-Makar
Pietrangelo-Rielly
Doughty-Hamilton
Spurgeon-Barrie
Hart
Hellebucyk
Price
Have a feeling they're gonna do everything they can to get Stamkos on the team considering his snub in 2010 and the injury in 2014, and if you're gonna bring him it really only makes sense to play him in the top six. Bergeron will be 37 and with two golds already, hands his duties off to Ryan O'Reilly. I like Tavares as an offensive match with Crosby and Marchand more, which gives you the luxury of having you three best defensive forwards all together on a killer shutdown fourth line.
Barzal-McDavid-Point
Stamkos-MacKinnon-Scheiefle
Marchand-Crosby-Tavares
Couturier-ROR-Stone
Huberdeau-Seguin
Theodore-Makar
Pietrangelo-Rielly
Doughty-Hamilton
Spurgeon-Barrie
Hart
Hellebucyk
Price
Have a feeling they're gonna do everything they can to get Stamkos on the team considering his snub in 2010 and the injury in 2014, and if you're gonna bring him it really only makes sense to play him in the top six. Bergeron will be 37 and with two golds already, hands his duties off to Ryan O'Reilly. I like Tavares as an offensive match with Crosby and Marchand more, which gives you the luxury of having you three best defensive forwards all together on a killer shutdown fourth line.
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
If I was picking the U.S. team right now:
Goaltenders:
Hellebucyk
Gibson
Bishop
Defense:
Carlson/Slavin
Jones/Werenski
McAvoy/Hughes
McDonagh/Suter
Forwards:
Conner/Eichel/Wheeler
M. Tkachuk/Matthews/Kane
Gaudreau/Larkin/Boeser
Kreider/Nelson/Tuch
Goaltenders:
Hellebucyk
Gibson
Bishop
Defense:
Carlson/Slavin
Jones/Werenski
McAvoy/Hughes
McDonagh/Suter
Forwards:
Conner/Eichel/Wheeler
M. Tkachuk/Matthews/Kane
Gaudreau/Larkin/Boeser
Kreider/Nelson/Tuch
